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Big breaking news Thursday on the UNC front – former Tar Heel receiver Greg Little apparently collected a monthly cash allowance, travel money and more from an agency out of Georgia while on the college roster.

For you to tell me Little got $20,000 to play football or whatever the case may be, it’s routine business. It goes on across the board.

These agents and their runners are among the lowest of the low, and they've figured out how to work a system that takes advantage of young, talented athletes.

The agents get their hooks in a kid, maybe someone who is lower on the economic scale is vulnerable to their pitch.

I blame coaches, players, boosters all.

Once the kid makes "The League," as these prospects refer to the NFL, the agent gets him to sign and pockets a percentage of those multi-million dollar contracts.

The NCAA rules are toothless and "The League" doesn't care. Players serve a suspension, possibly lose eligibility, but if they have the talent, a team will draft them.

It goes on daily. It goes on everywhere, to some degree or another. And there is nothing to stop it, not even the North Carolina Secretary of State.

unc70Sep 7, 2013

I never even thought of the IRS aspect of all this, Ken. Interesting twist.

Agents paying players is one thing, but another issue is the kids schools keep eligible with bogus classes or changing their grades.

— Posted by StunGunn

Keep in mind that 80% of the grade changes in AFAM were from a temporary grade (usually INcomplete) to a final / permanent grade (e.g. A, B-, C+).

WolfwackerSep 7, 2013

UNC CHeats. What a sham.

StunGunnSep 6, 2013

View quoted thread

It's clear neither the NCAA nor the schools can control what agents do. And prosecution across state lines is difficult at best. But if a player like Little is receiving that kind of money and isn't reporting it as income on his federal and state tax returns, he is guilty of income tax evasion. And if the agent isn't furnishing the IRS with 1099's for all the players they give cash to, they are guilty of tax fraud.

If a few agents and players actually spent some time behind bars for this kind of thing, it would slow it down.

— Posted by Ken D.

I never even thought of the IRS aspect of all this, Ken. Interesting twist.

Agents paying players is one thing, but another issue is the kids schools keep eligible with bogus classes or changing their grades.

Toddler10-21Sep 6, 2013

So true beast.

Ken D.Sep 6, 2013

It's clear neither the NCAA nor the schools can control what agents do. And prosecution across state lines is difficult at best. But if a player like Little is receiving that kind of money and isn't reporting it as income on his federal and state tax returns, he is guilty of income tax evasion. And if the agent isn't furnishing the IRS with 1099's for all the players they give cash to, they are guilty of tax fraud.

If a few agents and players actually spent some time behind bars for this kind of thing, it would slow it down.

tBeastSep 6, 2013

View quoted thread

It doesnt go on at Duke because there kids families are already rich.

— Posted by Toddler10-21

or because no players for dook ever make it to &quot;the league&quot;.

Ken D.Sep 6, 2013

It is an exaggeration to say that every school has this problem. But the reason many schools don't have it isn't because they are more virtuous. It's because they don't have players talented enough for an agent to risk paying them with the expectation they will sign lucrative pro contracts.

I suspect UNC didn't have much of a problem until they started going after the four and five star recruits under Davis. Agents aren't waving dollars under the noses of two and three star players.

As for the players, I'm sure they know that taking money is against NCAA rules. The fact is that a lot more people are coming around to the idea that players getting paid isn't ethically wrong, while colleges exploiting the players is ethically wrong.

I think the time is coming for major change in how we view college football and basketball. I hope it gets here soon.

UNCW23Sep 6, 2013

uhm... Lance Thomas?

UNCW23Sep 6, 2013

Why, once a player exceeds a certain amount it could be 100K and the punishment would be the same. He was ruled ineligible, games were forfeited, scholarship losses, bowl ban, coaches fired, etc. Now this doesn't comapre to the PED problem at MOO U, which is really a competitive advantage vs. taking a little cash!

StunGunnSep 6, 2013

View quoted thread

This is not a UNC issue, or a Duke issue or a Ohio State issue or even a USC issue. This is a societal issue. These kids knew what they were doing and that it was wrong. They are schooled every year by the coaching staff on what the NCAA expects. Agree or disagree with the rules concerning player compensation, until the rules get changed, it is still wrong to accept money as a player. The players that break the rules weigh the benefits against the consequences and know that if they can hang on until school is over, they get off scott free. The players don't care if the school gets into trouble after they are gone as long as they get the money while they are there. This will continue to go on until the pro leagues step in and make these ex-players responsible for their actions.

— Posted by dennisjones2

Totally agree! This is NOT a deflection. There is an imbalance going on in many schools that let athletes in who have no interest at all in academics, and would never qualify, other than their athletic abilities. They're kept eligible by bogus classes just to win on the field or court. Until this is addressed, cheating will continue. Carolina got caught big time, and I can only hope that some good comes out of this scandal - like agents doing jail time. I wish the NCAA would dissolve, and have everything out in the open by having the schools field/sponsor semi-pro teams, because that's basically what they are. Offer degrees to those whom are interested, but the charade of many of these kids being &quot;students&quot; should end.

I agree that the players knew it was wrong to take the $$$, but it's the kids who didn't and the schools who are left holding the bag while the Littles and Austins of the world go onto the Pros.